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Uses of the Present Subjunctive Tense - Usos del Subjuntivo Presente

Uses of the Present Subjunctive Tense (Usos del Subjuntivo Presente)

Advanced III

57. Uses of the Present Subjunctive Tense (English)

The present subjunctive has various important uses in Spanish.

This lesson includes information on:

  1. Subjunctive Form in Noun Clauses
  2. Subjunctive Form in Main Clauses
  3. Subjunctive Form in Adverbial Clauses
  4. Subjunctive Form in Adjective Clauses
  5. Subjunctive Form with Indefinites
  6. Subjunctive Form in Independent Sentences
  7. Related Vocabulary

1. Subjunctive Form in Noun Clauses

The uses of the subjunctive form in noun clauses:

The subjunctive is formed with two clauses:

· the main clause

· the dependent clause

Generally these clauses use the connecting word que.

The two subjects of the same sentence must be different.

· The main clause should be in the indicative form: present indicative, future indicative, and commands.

· The dependent clause should be in the subjunctive form: present subjunctive.

For example:

Spanish

English

Yo espero que tú hables español.

I hope that you speak Spanish.

2. Subjunctive Form in Main Clauses

The subjunctive is used in the main clause when it refers to:

· Hypothetical states

· Doubts

· Emotions

· Commands

· Negations

· Advice or begging

· Permission or prohibition

· Wishes

a) If we have only one subject in a sentence, we use the infinitive.

For example:

Spanish

English

Espero regresar temprano.

I hope to return early.

b) With the verbs creer and pensar, one uses the subjunctive in the question and negative forms.

For example:

Spanish

English

¿Crees que llueva mañana?

Do you think it will rain tomorrow?

¿No creen ustedes que él sea un buen hombre?

Don’t you think he is a good man?

No pienso que sea un buen hombre.

I don’t think he is a good man.

· One uses the indicative form in the affirmative.

For example:

Spanish

English

Pienso que es un buen hombre.

I think he is a good man.

· The verb pensar uses the subjunctive when it is in question form.

For example:

Spanish

English

¿Piensas tú que él regrese temprano.

Do you think that he will return early?

· When it is in the negative form, it is necessary to use the verb creer and not the verb pensar.

For example:

Spanish

English

No creo que venga temprano.

I don’t think he will come early.

c) Use the subjunctive when the main clause is:

o Impersonal

o Expresses doubt, probability or an opinion

For example:

Spanish

English

Es necesario que vuelvas pronto.

It is necessary that you return soon.

3. Subjunctive Form in Adverbial Clauses

The subjunctive in adverbial clauses:

a) Main phrase + expression or time or concession + subjunctive or indicative verb. For the subjunctive in the adverbial clauses you don’t need to have different subjects in each clause.

· Uses the indicative when we are expressing a real experience or a truth.

For example:

Spanish

English

Ve la televisión cuando está en casa.

She watches TV when she is home.

· The subjunctive is used when the subordinate clauses expresses an action that will happened, or when there is a command form:

For example:

Spanish

English

Verá la televisión cuando venga.

She will watch TV when she comes.

¡Mira la television sólo cuando

termines de estudiar!

Watch TV only when you finish studying!

b) Main phrase + expression of purpose, condition, or anticipation + subjunctive verb

· Used only with the subjunctive because it expresses actions that have not yet happened.

For example:

Spanish

English

Volveré antes de que me lo pidas.

I will return before you ask me to.

4. Subjunctive Form in Adjective Clauses

The subjunctive with adjective clauses:

Noun or pronoun + relative pronoun + indicative or subjunctive verb

a) Uses the indicative form in the subordinate phrase in order to indicate that the person or thing to whom or to which one refers exists or is known.

For example:

Spanish

English

Inscribimos a la chica que llegó ayer por la tarde.

We registered the girl who arrived yesterday afternoon.

b) Uses the subjunctive in the subordinate clause in order to indicate that the person to whom or thing to which one refers does not exist or is not known.

For example:

Spanish

English

Inscribiremos a la chica que llegue temprano.

We will register the girl who arrives early.

5. Subjunctive Form with Indefinites

The subjunctive with indefinites:

  • Cualquiera
  • Quienquiera
  • Dondequiera
  • Comoquiera

cualesquiera + indicative or subjunctive verb

a) Uses the indicative form to express a real experience.

For example:

Spanish

English

Dondequiera que parábamos encontrábamos los recursos necesarios.

Wherever we stop we find the necessary resources.

b) Use the subjunctive to express an uncertain action that normally has not happened.

For example:

Spanish

English

Dondequiera que paremos encontraremos los recursos necesarios.

Wherever we stop we will find the necessary resources.

6. Subjunctive Form in Independent Sentences

The subjunctive in independent sentences:

a) Expressions of doubt:

· Use acaso, quizá(s), tal vez with the indicative form to express certainty.

For example:

Spanish

English

Tal vez volverá mañana (creo que volverá.).

Perhaps she will return tomorrow (I think she will return.)

· Use acaso, quizá(s), tal vez with the subjunctive to emphasize doubt.

For example:

Spanish

English

Tal vez vuelva mañana (espero que vuelva).

Perhaps she will return tomorrow (I think she will return.)

b) Expressions of desire:

· Use ojalá que with the present subjunctive form to express a wish or desire in the present or in the future.

For example:

Spanish

English

Ojalá que vuelva mañana.

I hope she will return tomorrow.

7. Related Vocabulary

Spanish

English

Verbos de deseo:

Verbs of desire:

Desear

To wish, to want, to desire

Querer

To want

Preferir

To prefer

Esperar

To wait for, to wish for

Insistir en

To insist on

Necesitar

To need

Recomendar

To recommend

Verbos de mandato:

Command verbs:

Aconsejar

To advise

Dar permiso

To give permission

Decir

To say

Dejar

To leave, to let

Demandar

To demand

Exigir

To demand, to require

Hacer

To do, to make

Impedir

To prevent, to stop, to hinder

Implorar

To implore

Mandar

To send

Obligar

To force

Ordenar

To order

Pedir

To ask for

Permitir

To permit

Prevenir

To prevent

Prohibir

To prohibit

Proponer

To propose, to suggest

Rezar

To pray

Rogar

To beg

Referir

To refer

Suplicar

To beg

Verbos de emoción:

Verbs of emotion:

Alegrar

To cheer up

Alegrarse

To be glad

Molestar

To bother

Gustar

To like

Encantar

To love

Disgustar

To dislike

Dar horror

To give horror

Dar tristeza

To give sadness

Agradar

To please

Desagradar

To displease

Dar miedo

To scare

Dar risa

To make laugh

Dar vergüenza

To give shame

Extrañar

To miss, to surprise

Extrañarse

To be surprised

Parecer ridículo

To appear ridiculous

Parecer cómico

To appear comical

Parecer bueno

To appear good

Parecer malo

To appear bad

Parecer mentira

To appear a lie

Sorprender

To surprise

Sorprenderse

To be surprised

Doler

To hurt

Preocupar

To worry

Preocuparse

To worry oneself

Interesar

To interest

Tener la culpa

To be guilty

Temer

To fear

Lamentar

To regret

Sentir

To feel

Tener miedo

To be scared

Emocionar

To excite

Odiar

To hate

Angustiar

To distress

Angustiarse

To become anxious

Entristecerse

To become sad

Asustar

To scare

Enojar

To make angry, to annoy

Enfadar

To anger

Espantar

To frighten, to scare

Asombrar

To amaze

Afligir

To afflict

Verbos de duda:

Verbs of doubt:

Dudar

To doubt

Negar

To negate

No creer

To not believe

No imaginar

To not imagine

No sospechar

To not suspect

No suponer

To not suppose

Verbos de opinión:

Verbs of opinion: